Graphical depiction of four dimensional trajectory based operation flight plans

ABSTRACT

The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a user interface and a computer. The user interface comprises a display. The computer is configured to display information about time and position of an aircraft in relation to a number of waypoints for a flight on the display. The information is displayed using a number of graphical display features.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/781,548, entitled “GRAPHICAL DEPICTION OF FOUR DIMENSIONALTRAJECTORY BASED OPERATION FLIGHT PLANS,” filed May 17, 2010, status,Pending.

This application is related to commonly assigned and co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/781,525 entitled “Four DimensionalTrajectory Based Operation Flight Plans,” which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft and, in particular,to a method and system for depicting flight plan information. Still moreparticularly, the present disclosure provides a method and system forgraphically depicting important information about current flight planstatus during flight.

2. Background

Aircraft flight management systems rely on flight plans for route anddestination information. These flight plans are pre-defined andpreloaded before a flight into the flight management system. The flightmanagement system is often implemented in a flight deck computer of theaircraft or an electronic flight bag. A flight plan will include arequired time of arrival for the aircraft at waypoints along the routeand the destination.

During flight, an aircraft may encounter a number of conditions thataffect the travel time of the aircraft. For example, wind conditions mayaffect the speed of an aircraft. When a condition affects the traveltime of the aircraft, a required time of arrival at a particularwaypoint or destination may no longer be met by the aircraft. Thisresults in air traffic delays that are often not realized until theaircraft has reached its destination.

Current flight plans primarily rely on defined airways and navigationwaypoints, but air traffic management is moving towards a “free flight”mode that is not limited to fixed airways. To ensure sufficientseparation between aircraft in this environment flight plans will becomefour dimensional (4D) paths. Timing along the route is not as importantas arrival time at a destination waypoint with traditional flight paths,but a 4D flight plan requires accurate timing all along the flight pathto maintain airspace separation. Current systems are not designed toreadily provide situational awareness of actual flight path as comparedto a 4D flight plan. It is also important to update 4D flight plansduring flight and quickly provide updated situational information topilots.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus thataddresses one or more of the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising auser interface and a computer. The user interface comprises a display.The computer is configured to display information about time andposition of an aircraft in relation to a number of waypoints for aflight on the display. The information is displayed using a number ofgraphical display features.

The different advantageous embodiments further provide a method forgraphical depiction of flight information. First flight informationassociated with a flight plan is received by a computer. The firstflight information has a number of waypoints and a number of requiredtimes of arrival for the number of waypoints. A number of graphicaldisplay features is generated by the computer using the first flightinformation. The number of graphical display features is integrated bythe computer with navigation information presented on a display. Updatedflight information is continually received during a flight. The updatedflight information has a number of estimated times of arrival for thenumber of waypoints. A determination is made by the computer as towhether the number of estimated times of arrival deviates from thenumber of required times of arrival. In response to a determination thatthe number of estimated times of arrival deviates from the number ofrequired times of arrival, the number of graphical display features isupdated by the computer using the updated flight information.

The different advantageous embodiments further provide a computerprogram product for depicting graphical flight information comprising acomputer recordable storage medium and program code stored on thecomputer recordable storage medium. The program code receives firstflight information associated with a flight plan having a number ofwaypoints and a number of required times of arrival for the number ofwaypoints, generates a number of graphical display features using thefirst flight information, integrates the number of graphical displayfeatures with navigation information presented on a display, continuallyreceives updated flight information during a flight having a number ofestimated times of arrival for the number of waypoints, determineswhether the number of estimated times of arrival deviates from thenumber of required times of arrival, and responsive to a determinationthat the number of estimated times of arrival deviates from the numberof required times of arrival, updates the number of graphical displayfeatures using the updated flight information.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently invarious embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yetother embodiments in which further details can be seen with reference tothe following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the advantageousembodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The advantageousembodiments, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, furtherobjectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referenceto the following detailed description of an advantageous embodiment ofthe present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a network of data processing systems inwhich an advantageous embodiment may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a data processing system in accordance withan advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a navigation environment in accordance withan advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of flight information in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a graphical depiction process in accordancewith an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a number of graphical display features inaccordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a number of bars in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a navigation display in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a electronic navigation chart in accordancewith an advantageous embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a flowchart illustrating a process forgraphical depiction of flight information in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference toFIGS. 1-2, exemplary diagrams of data processing environments areprovided in which the advantageous embodiments of the present inventionmay be implemented. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 1-2 are onlyexemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation withregard to the environments in which different embodiments may beimplemented. Many modifications to the depicted environments may bemade.

With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorialrepresentation of a network of data processing systems in which theadvantageous embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.Network data processing system 100 is a network of computers in whichembodiments may be implemented. Network data processing system 100contains network 102, which is the medium used to provide communicationslinks between various devices and computers connected together withinnetwork data processing system 100. Network 102 may include connections,such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.

In the depicted example, server 104 and server 106 connect to network102 along with storage 108. In addition, clients 110, 112, and 114connect to network 102. These clients 110, 112, and 114 may be, forexample, personal computers or network computers. In the depictedexample, server 104 provides data, such as boot files, operating systemimages, and applications to clients 110, 112, and 114. Clients 110, 112,and 114 are clients to server 104 in this example. Aircraft 116 also isa client that may exchange information with clients 110, 112, and 114.Aircraft 116 also may exchange information with servers 104 and 106.Aircraft 116 may exchange data with different computers through awireless communications link while in-flight or through any other typeof communications link while on the ground. In these examples, server104, server 106, client 110, client 112, and client 114 may becomputers. Network data processing system 100 may include additionalservers, clients, and other devices not shown.

In the depicted example, network data processing system 100 is theInternet with network 102 representing a worldwide collection ofnetworks and gateways that use the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicatewith one another. Of course, network data processing system 100 also maybe implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as forexample, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network(WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architecturallimitation for different embodiments.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing system isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. Data processingsystem 200 is an example of a data processing system that may be used toimplement servers and clients, such as server 104 and client 110.Further, data processing system 200 is an example of a data processingsystem that may be found in aircraft 116 in FIG. 1.

In this illustrative example, data processing system 200 includescommunications fabric 202, which provides communications betweenprocessor unit 204, memory 206, persistent storage 208, communicationsunit 210, input/output (I/O) unit 212, and display 214.

Processor unit 204 serves to execute instructions for software that maybe loaded into memory 206. Processor unit 204 may be a number ofprocessors, a multi-processor core, or some other type of processor,depending on the particular implementation. A number, as used hereinwith reference to an item, means one or more items. Further, processorunit 204 may be implemented using a number of heterogeneous processorsystems in which a main processor is present with secondary processorson a single chip. As another illustrative example, processor unit 204may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processorsof the same type.

Memory 206 and persistent storage 208 are examples of storage devices216. A storage device is any piece of hardware that is capable ofstoring information, such as, for example without limitation, data,program code in functional form, and/or other suitable informationeither on a temporary basis and/or a permanent basis. Memory 206, inthese examples, may be, for example, a random access memory or any othersuitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. Persistent storage 208may take various forms depending on the particular implementation.

For example, persistent storage 208 may contain one or more componentsor devices. For example, persistent storage 208 may be a hard drive, aflash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, orsome combination of the above. The media used by persistent storage 208also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be usedfor persistent storage 208.

Communications unit 210, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. In these examples,communications unit 210 is a network interface card. Communications unit210 may provide communications through the use of either or bothphysical and wireless communications links.

Input/output unit 212 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to data processing system 200. Forexample, input/output unit 212 may provide a connection for user inputthrough a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device.Further, input/output unit 212 may send output to a printer. Display 214provides a mechanism to display information to a user.

Instructions for the operating system, applications and/or programs maybe located in storage devices 216, which are in communication withprocessor unit 204 through communications fabric 202. In theseillustrative examples the instruction are in a functional form onpersistent storage 208. These instructions may be loaded into memory 206for execution by processor unit 204. The processes of the differentembodiments may be performed by processor unit 204 using computerimplemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such asmemory 206.

These instructions are referred to as program code, computer usableprogram code, or computer readable program code that may be read andexecuted by a processor in processor unit 204. The program code in thedifferent embodiments may be embodied on different physical or tangiblecomputer readable media, such as memory 206 or persistent storage 208.

Program code 218 is located in a functional form on computer readablemedia 220 that is selectively removable and may be loaded onto ortransferred to data processing system 200 for execution by processorunit 204. Program code 218 and computer readable media 220 form computerprogram product 222 in these examples. In one example, computer readablemedia 220 may be computer readable storage media 224 or computerreadable signal media 226. Computer readable storage media 224 mayinclude, for example, an optical or magnetic disk that is inserted orplaced into a drive or other device that is part of persistent storage208 for transfer onto a storage device, such as a hard drive, that ispart of persistent storage 208. Computer readable storage media 224 alsomay take the form of a persistent storage, such as a hard drive, a thumbdrive, or a flash memory, that is connected to data processing system200. In some instances, computer readable storage media 224 may not beremovable from data processing system 200. In these illustrativeexamples, computer readable storage media 224 is a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium.

Alternatively, program code 218 may be transferred to data processingsystem 200 using computer readable signal media 226. Computer readablesignal media 226 may be, for example, a propagated data signalcontaining program code 218. For example, computer readable signal media226 may be an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal, and/or anyother suitable type of signal. These signals may be transmitted overcommunications links, such as wireless communications links, opticalfiber cable, coaxial cable, a wire, and/or any other suitable type ofcommunications link. In other words, the communications link and/or theconnection may be physical or wireless in the illustrative examples.

In some advantageous embodiments, program code 218 may be downloadedover a network to persistent storage 208 from another device or dataprocessing system through computer readable signal media 226 for usewithin data processing system 200. For instance, program code stored ina computer readable storage medium in a server data processing systemmay be downloaded over a network from the server to data processingsystem 200. The data processing system providing program code 218 may bea server computer, a client computer, or some other device capable ofstoring and transmitting program code 218.

The different components illustrated for data processing system 200 arenot meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. The different advantageousembodiments may be implemented in a data processing system includingcomponents in addition to or in place of those illustrated for dataprocessing system 200. Other components shown in FIG. 2 can be variedfrom the illustrative examples shown. The different embodiments may beimplemented using any hardware device or system capable of runningprogram code. As one example, the data processing system may includeorganic components integrated with inorganic components and/or may becomprised entirely of organic components excluding a human being. Forexample, a storage device may be comprised of an organic semiconductor.

As another example, a storage device in data processing system 200 isany hardware apparatus that may store data. Memory 206, persistentstorage 208, and computer readable media 220 are examples of storagedevices in a tangible form.

In another example, a bus system may be used to implement communicationsfabric 202 and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a systembus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implementedusing any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer ofdata between different components or devices attached to the bus system.Additionally, a communications unit may include one or more devices usedto transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter.Further, a memory may be, for example, memory 206, or a cache such asfound in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present incommunications fabric 202.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of”, when used with a list ofitems, means that different combinations of one or more of the items maybe used and only one of each item in the list may be needed. Forexample, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may include, forexample, without limitation, item A or item A and item B. This examplealso may include item A, item B, and item C or item B and item C.

As used herein, when a first component is connected to a secondcomponent, the first component may be connected to the second componentwithout any additional components. The first component also may beconnected to the second component by one or more other components. Forexample, one electronic device may be connected to another electronicdevice without any additional electronic devices between the firstelectronic device and the second electronic device. In some cases,another electronic device may be present between the two electronicdevices connected to each other.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into accountthat current flight management systems display en-route and terminalcharts associated with a flight plan using static information, orinformation that was pre-defined and preloaded well before the flight.When conditions during flight affect the travel time of the aircraft,the information depicting route information may become less relevant.The trajectory information provided in a navigational display maycontain copious amounts of textual information that is too cumbersome toprovide situational awareness in a glance.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprisinga user interface, a computer, and program code. The user interfacecomprises a display. The computer is configured to execute the programcode to depict flight information in a graphical format using a numberof graphical display features.

The different advantageous embodiments further provide a method forgraphical depiction of flight information. First flight informationassociated with a flight plan is received by a computer. The firstflight information has a number of waypoints and a number of requiredtimes of arrival for the number of waypoints. A number of graphicaldisplay features is generated by the computer using the first flightinformation. The number of graphical display features is integrated bythe computer with a display. Updated flight information is continuallyreceived during a flight. The updated flight information has a number ofestimated times of arrival for the number of waypoints. A determinationis made by the computer as to whether the number of estimated times ofarrival deviates from the number of required times of arrival. Inresponse to a determination that the number of estimated times ofarrival deviates from the number of required times of arrival, thenumber of graphical display features is updated by the computer usingthe updated flight information.

The different advantageous embodiments further provide a computerprogram product for depicting graphical flight information comprising acomputer recordable storage medium and program code stored on thecomputer recordable storage medium. The program code receives firstflight information associated with a flight plan having a number ofwaypoints and a number of required times of arrival for the number ofwaypoints, generates a number of graphical display features using thefirst flight information, integrates the number of graphical displayfeatures with a display, continually receives updated flight informationduring a flight having a number of estimated times of arrival for thenumber of waypoints, determines whether the number of estimated times ofarrival deviates from the number of required times of arrival, andresponsive to a determination that the number of estimated times ofarrival deviates from the number of required times or arrival, updatesthe number of graphical display features using the updated flightinformation.

With reference now to FIG. 3, an illustration of a navigationenvironment is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.Navigation environment 300 may be implemented in a network environment,such as network data processing system 100 in FIG. 1, for example.

Navigation environment 300 may be any type of environment suitable forreceiving, viewing, displaying, and/or selecting flight plans foraircraft, for example. Navigation environment 300 includes aircraft 302.Aircraft 302 is an illustrative example of one implementation ofaircraft 116 in FIG. 1. Aircraft 302 may be associated with flight plan304. Flight plan 304 includes number of waypoints 306 and number ofrunway destinations 308. Number of waypoints 306 is one or morereference points in physical space used for navigation. For example, awaypoint may be a set of coordinates including latitude, longitude,altitude, and/or time that identify a point in physical space. Number ofrunway destinations 308 is one or more geographical locations associatedwith a runway, such as an airport runway, for example.

Aircraft 302 includes, without limitation, computer 310 and pilot 312.Computer 310 may be an aircraft data processing system of the aircraftflight deck, an electronic flight bag, and/or any other suitableaircraft computer. Computer 310 includes flight management system 314,user interface 316, and database 318. Flight management system 314 is asystem that automates a number of in-flight tasks, such as navigationand flight plan management. Flight management system 314 receives flightinformation 320 and associated information for a flight. Associatedinformation may include information such as, without limitation, weatherinformation, wind information, electronic en-route charts, terminalcharts, and/or any other suitable information, for example. Flightmanagement system 314 uses the flight information and associatedinformation to provide navigational information and navigational aid topilot 312 over display 322 of user interface 316.

In these illustrative examples, flight management system 314 includesgraphical depiction process 324. Flight information 320 is informationabout the context of a flight, in these illustrative examples.Information about the context of a flight may include, for example,without limitation, information about a flight plan, current aircraftposition, current aircraft altitude, current time, and current weatherconditions in an environment around aircraft 302, and/or any othersuitable information about the context of a flight. Information about aflight plan may include, for example, without limitation, routeinformation, a number of waypoints, required time of arrival for each ofthe number of waypoints and a number of destinations, estimated time ofarrival for each of the number of waypoints and the number ofdestinations, forecasted weather for the flight route, and/or any othersuitable flight plan information.

Graphical depiction process 324 receives flight information 320 aboutthe context of a flight for aircraft 302 and uses flight information 320to generate number of graphical display features 326. Number ofgraphical display features 326 depicts information about the context ofthe flight for aircraft 302 using a number of symbols and/or colors.Graphical depiction process 324 integrates number of graphical displayfeatures 326 with display 322. Display 322 may be any illustrativeexample of display 214 in FIG. 2. Display 322 may present any type ofinformation to pilot 312, such as, for example, without limitation,navigation display 328 and number of electronic navigation charts 330.Navigation display 328 may be, for example, information used during aflight to navigate between a number of waypoints in a flight plan.Number of electronic navigation charts 330 may be another example oftypes of information used during navigation of a flight and/or duringapproach and landing at an airport, for example. Three dimensionalprimary flight display 332 may be an illustrative example of oneimplementation of display 322.

Pilot 312 may be a human aircraft operator, for example. Pilot 312 viewsdisplay 322 having number of graphical display features 326 duringflight of aircraft 302 to obtain situational awareness of flight statusand identify flight context information, such as whether or not a flightis running on time, is running behind schedule, or is running ahead ofschedule, for example.

In an illustrative example, number of graphical display features 326 mayindicate that aircraft 302 will reach a waypoint ahead of schedule.Pilot 312 may view the graphical feature depicting the waypoint thatwill be reached ahead of schedule on display 322, and may use the visualinformation to make a determination about updating or changing a flightplan, for example. In another illustrative example, pilot 312 may viewthe graphical feature depicting the waypoint that will be reached aheadof schedule on display 322, and select the graphical feature using userinterface 316 to retrieve more detailed textual information about thewaypoint, the flight plan, the exact amount of time variance between therequired time of arrival and the estimated time of arrival for thewaypoint, and/or any other suitable information.

The illustration of navigation environment 300 in FIG. 3 is not meant toimply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Other componentsin addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may be used. Somecomponents may be unnecessary in some advantageous embodiments. Also,the blocks are presented to illustrate some functional components. Oneor more of these blocks may be combined and/or divided into differentblocks when implemented in different advantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an illustration of flight information thatmay be graphically depicted in accordance with an advantageousembodiment. Flight information 400 is an illustrative example of flightinformation 320 in FIG. 3.

Flight information 400 is information about the current status of aflight that includes latitude, longitude, altitude, and timeinformation, along with other information in comparison with a fourdimensional flight plan. Four dimensional (4D) information includeslatitude, longitude, altitude, and time. In an advantageous embodiment,4D information may consist of latitude, longitude, altitude, and timefor waypoints along the route of a flight, for example. Flightinformation 400 includes information collected and/or calculated about aflight and a flight plan having a number of waypoints or destinations.

Four dimensional flight information 402 may provide real-time or nearreal-time feedback to an aircraft operator about the position and timingof the aircraft compared to the flight plan and required times ofarrival, for example. Information retrieved during flight may be used tobuild flight context sensitive four dimensional information aboutaircraft position and timing, and compares that four dimensionalinformation to expected or required position and timing informationprovided by a flight plan to form four dimensional flight information402, for example. In an advantageous embodiment, flight information maybe continually retrieved and recalculated to update four dimensionalflight information 402 during flight to provide up-to-date contextualinformation for the flight, for example.

Flight information 400 may include aircraft position information 404,time 406, active route information 408, weather forecast 410, number ofrequired times of arrival 412, and number of estimated times of arrival420. Aircraft position information 404 may include, without limitation,latitude 414, longitude 416, and altitude 418. Latitude 414 andlongitude 416 may be determined by a global positioning system of anaircraft, such as aircraft 302 in FIG. 3, for example. Altitude 418 maybe determined by a pressure altimeter of an aircraft, such as aircraft302 in FIG. 3, for example.

Time 406 may be determined by a clock associated with an aircraftcomputer, such as computer 310 in FIG. 3. Active route information 408may be stored in a database, such as database 318 in FIG. 3 and/orreceived from ground services in communication with aircraft 302 in FIG.3 over a network, such as network 102 in FIG. 1. Active routeinformation may include, without limitation, flight plan 422, number ofwaypoints 424 associated with flight plan 422, destination 426associated with flight plan 422, and/or any other suitable informationabout an active route for an aircraft associated with flight information400.

Weather forecast 410 may include projected weather informationassociated with number of waypoints 424, for example. Number of requiredtimes of arrival 412 and number of estimated times of arrival 420 areassociated with number of waypoints 424. For example, each waypoint innumber of waypoints 424 may have an associated required time of arrivalfrom number of required times of arrival 412 and an associated estimatedtime of arrival from number of estimated times of arrival 420.

Number of estimated times of arrival 420 may be calculated by a flightplanning process using aircraft position information 404, time 406,active route information 408, and weather forecast 410, in anillustrative example. Number of estimated times of arrival 420 may becalculated for each waypoint in number of waypoints 424 and/or fordestination 426 associated with flight plan 422, for example.

Flight information 400 may be received by graphical depiction process324 in FIG. 3 and used to generate number of graphical display features326 for graphical display to a pilot, such as pilot 312 in FIG. 3.Graphical display of flight information 400 enhances situationalawareness in a context sensitive manner specific to a particularaircraft in an easy-to-read visual depiction, for example.

The illustration of flight information 400 in FIG. 4 is not meant toimply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Other componentsin addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may be used. Somecomponents may be unnecessary in some advantageous embodiments. Also,the blocks are presented to illustrate some functional components. Oneor more of these blocks may be combined and/or divided into differentblocks when implemented in different advantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 5, an illustration of a graphical depictionprocess is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.Graphical depiction process 500 is an illustrative example of graphicaldepiction process 324 in FIG. 3.

Graphical depiction process 500 receives flight information 502 fromflight management system, such as flight management system 314 in FIG.3. Flight information 502 may be an illustrative example of oneimplementation of flight information 320 in FIG. 3 and/or flightinformation 400 in FIG. 4.

Flight information 502 may include, for example, without limitation,aircraft position information 504, time 506, number of estimated timesof arrival 508, number of required times of arrival 510, and number ofwaypoints 512. Aircraft position information 504 may be, for example,without limitation, latitude, longitude, and altitude. Number ofestimated times of arrival 508 may be associated with number ofwaypoints 512 and/or a destination for a flight plan associated withflight information 502, for example. Likewise, number of required timesof arrival 510 may be associated with number of waypoints 512 and/or adestination for a flight plan associated with flight information 502,for example.

Graphical depiction process 500 includes graphical display featuregenerator 514. Graphical display feature generator 514 uses flightinformation 502 to generate number of graphical display features 516.Number of graphical display features 516 is a visual depiction of flightinformation 502 using symbols and/or colors. Number of graphical displayfeatures 516 may depict current flight status information againstexpected flight plan information in a easy-to-read graphic, providingflight context sensitive feedback to a pilot, such as pilot 312 in FIG.3.

The illustration of graphical depiction process 500 in FIG. 5 is notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Othercomponents in addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may beused. Some components may be unnecessary in some advantageousembodiments. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate somefunctional components. One or more of these blocks may be combinedand/or divided into different blocks when implemented in differentadvantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 6, an illustration of a number of graphicaldisplay features is depicted in accordance with an advantageousembodiment. Number of graphical display features 600 is an illustrativeexample of one implementation of number of graphical display features326 in FIG. 3 and/or number of graphical display features 516 in FIG. 5.

Number of graphical display features 600 may be graphical symbolsimplemented as objects and/or pictures rather than textual oralphanumeric information. Number of graphical display features 600 mayinclude, for example, without limitation, number of bars 602, number ofdials 604, and other graphical display features 606.

Number of bars 602 may be, in one illustrative example, vertical barswith horizontal lines denoting lower and upper limits, for example. Inanother illustrative example, number of bars 602 may be horizontal barswith vertical lines denoting lower and upper limits, for example. Bar608 is an illustrative example of one implementation of number of bars602.

Bar 608 includes maximum positive limit 610, maximum negative limit 612,origin 614, threshold limit 616, marker 618, and selectable portion 620.Selectable portion 620 may include a hyperlink to additional textualinformation, for example. Maximum positive limit 610 may be a line orother indicator denoting an upper limit, for example. Maximum negativelimit 612 may be a line or other indicator denoting a lower limit, forexample. Origin 614 may be a line or other indicator denoting anexpected value without deviation. Threshold limit 616 may be apre-defined value outside of maximum positive limit 610 and maximumnegative limit 612. For example, if maximum positive limit 610 andmaximum negative limit 612 are set at a value of 100% deviation fromorigin 614, threshold limit 616 may be set at a value of 101% andhigher.

Marker 618 is a symbol or object associated with bar 608 that indicatesa current status in comparison with an expected status using maximumpositive limit 610, maximum negative limit 612, origin 614, andthreshold limit 616.

In an illustrative example, if origin 614 denotes a value for a requiredtime of arrival at a waypoint, maximum positive limit 610 may be thirtyseconds ahead of origin 614 while maximum negative limit 612 may bethirty seconds behind origin 614. Threshold limit 616 is any value overthirty-one seconds in this example. In this illustrative example, ifflight information 502 in FIG. 5 indicated that the estimated time ofarrival for the associated waypoint was thirty seconds ahead of therequired time of arrival, marker 618 would be positioned at maximumpositive limit 610 along bar 608. In another illustrative example, ifflight information 502 in FIG. 5 indicated that the estimated time ofarrival for the associated waypoint was thirty-five seconds ahead of therequired time of arrival, marker 618 would be positioned at maximumpositive limit 610 along bar 608 with number of additional symbols 630,discussed in more detail below.

Marker 618 may also include number of colors 622. In an advantageousembodiment, number of colors 622 may be used in addition to the positionof marker 618 along bar 608 to indicate context of maximum positivelimit 610, maximum negative limit 612, and origin 614. In anillustrative example, if marker 618 is positioned at or adjacent toorigin 614 along bar 608, marker may be one color. If marker 618 ispositioned between origin 614 and maximum positive limit 610, marker maybe a second color. If marker 618 is positioned at or adjacent to maximumpositive limit 610, marker may be a third color, in this illustrativeexample. In this example, color may serve as an additional graphicalindicator of flight context in addition to the position of marker 618along bar 608.

Number of colors 622 may include, for example, without limitation, green624, yellow 626, and red 628. In an illustrative example, green 624 maybe associated with a position at or adjacent to origin 614. Yellow 626may be associated with a position between origin 614 and maximumpositive limit 610 and/or between origin 614 and maximum negative limit612. Red 628 may be associated with a position at or adjacent to maximumpositive limit 610 and/or maximum negative limit 612, in thisillustrative example.

Marker 618 may also include number of additional symbols 630. Number ofadditional symbols 630 is a symbol or object that is associated withmarker 618 and different from the symbol or object representing marker618. Number of additional symbols 630 may be used to depict excessivedeviations, for example, outside threshold limit 616.

The illustration of number of graphical display features 600 in FIG. 6is not meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to themanner in which different advantageous embodiments may be implemented.Other components in addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated maybe used. Some components may be unnecessary in some advantageousembodiments. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate somefunctional components. One or more of these blocks may be combinedand/or divided into different blocks when implemented in differentadvantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 7, an illustration of a number of bars isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. Number of bars700 may be an illustrative example of one implementation of number ofbars 602 in FIG. 6.

Number of bars 700 includes bar 702, bar 704, bar 706, and bar 708. Eachof bar 702, bar 704, bar 706, and bar 708 includes maximum positivelimit 710, origin 712, and maximum negative limit 714. Origin 712 is apoint of no deviation from an expected or required value. For example,origin 712 may be an expected or required position, such as latitude,longitude, or altitude, according to a flight plan. In another example,origin 712 may be an expected or required time associated with aposition. Maximum positive limit 710 is a predefined value above orahead of origin 712. For example, where origin 712 is an expected orrequired time or arrival at a position, maximum positive limit 710 maybe a value ahead of that time indicating arrival earlier than theexpected or required time of arrival. Maximum negative limit 714 is apredefined value below or behind origin 712. For example, where origin712 is an expected or required time or arrival, maximum negative limit714 may be a value behind that time indicating arrival later than theexpected or required time of arrival at a particular waypoint. In theseillustrative examples, the predefined values for maximum positive limit710 and/or maximum negative limit 714 may be a value indicating amaximum allowed tolerance as defined by authorities, regulations, laws,and the like, for example.

In this illustrative example, marker 716 is adjacent to origin 712 onbar 702. As such, in this example, marker 716 is depicted using thecolor green. The colors selected for association with maximum positivelimit 710, origin 712, and maximum negative limit 714 are used forillustrative purposes and do not limit the functionality or architectureof the invention in any way. Any color may be selected to associate withorigin 712, for example. Marker 718 is positioned between origin 712 andmaximum negative limit 714 on bar 704, in this example, and depictedusing the color yellow. Marker 720 is positioned at maximum positivelimit 710 on bar 706 and depicted using the color red. Marker 720 mayillustrate a depiction of a deviation that is outside limits but withina threshold, for example. In an illustrative example, a limit value maybe set for maximum positive limit 710 and maximum negative limit 714,and a threshold value may be set outside each of the limit values. Inthis illustrative example, a deviation that is outside the limit valuebut within the threshold value is depicted using the color red, such asmarker 720 on bar 706.

Marker 722 is positioned at maximum positive limit 710 on bar 708 anddepicted using the color red and additional symbol 724. In anillustrative example, additional symbol 724 may indicate a deviationthat is both outside the limit value and outside the threshold value. Inthis illustrative example, the limit value may be up to 150% deviationfrom origin 712, and the threshold value may be any value larger than150%. If the deviation is 149% from origin 712, marker 720 is used todepict a deviation outside predefined limits. If the deviation is 151%from origin 712, marker 722 is used with additional symbol 724 to depicta deviation outside threshold limits.

The illustration of number of bars 700 in FIG. 7 is not meant to implyphysical or architectural limitations to the manner in which differentadvantageous embodiments may be implemented. Other components inaddition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may be used. Somecomponents may be unnecessary in some advantageous embodiments. Also,the blocks are presented to illustrate some functional components. Oneor more of these blocks may be combined and/or divided into differentblocks when implemented in different advantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 8, an illustration of a navigation display isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. Navigationdisplay 800 may be an illustrative example of one implementation ofnavigation display 328 integrated with number of graphical displayfeatures 326 in FIG. 3.

Navigation display 800 includes information associated with flight plan802. Flight plan 802 includes waypoint 804, waypoint 806, waypoint 808,and waypoint 810. Waypoint 804, waypoint 806, waypoint 808, and waypoint810 may be illustrative examples of number of waypoints 424 in FIG. 4and/or number of waypoints 512 in FIG. 5. Bar 812 is associated withwaypoint 804. Bar 814 is associated with waypoint 808. Bar 812 and bar814 may be illustrative examples of number of graphical display features326 in FIG. 3 and/or number of graphical display features 600 in FIG. 6.

Bar 812 indicates that the aircraft associated with navigation display800 is on time for the required arrival time at waypoint 804 andslightly ahead of schedule for the required arrival time at waypoint808. Bar 812 and bar 814 may be selectable icons and/or graphicalsymbols that a pilot, such as pilot 312 in FIG. 3, may select to link toadditional textual information about the flight status indicated by bar812 and bar 814.

The illustration of navigation display 800 in FIG. 8 is not meant toimply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Other componentsin addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may be used. Somecomponents may be unnecessary in some advantageous embodiments. Also,the blocks are presented to illustrate some functional components. Oneor more of these blocks may be combined and/or divided into differentblocks when implemented in different advantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 9, an illustration of a electronic navigationchart is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.Electronic navigation chart 900 is an illustrative example of oneimplementation of number of electronic navigation charts 330 in FIG. 3.

Electronic navigation chart 900 includes information about approach 902.Approach 902 may include waypoint 904 and runway 906. Bar 908 isassociated with waypoint 904 and bar 910 is associated with runway 906.Bar 908 indicates that the aircraft associated with electronicnavigation chart 900 is ahead of schedule for reaching waypoint 904 onapproach 902. Bar 910 indicates that the aircraft will be on time atrunway 906.

The illustration of electronic navigation chart 900 in FIG. 9 is notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Othercomponents in addition and/or in place of the ones illustrated may beused. Some components may be unnecessary in some advantageousembodiments. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate somefunctional components. One or more of these blocks may be combinedand/or divided into different blocks when implemented in differentadvantageous embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 10, an illustration of a flowchartillustrating a process for graphical depiction of flight information isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. The process inFIG. 10 may be implemented by a component such as graphical depictionprocess 324 in FIG. 3, for example.

The process begins by receiving first flight information associated witha flight plan having a number of waypoints and a number of requiredtimes of arrival for the number of waypoints (operation 1002). Theflight plan may be received prior to flight from an aircraft operationscenter, for example. The flight plan may include en-route charts,terminal charts, required times of arrival, waypoints, and adestination, for example. The flight information may be received duringflight by a flight management system, such as flight information 320generated by flight management system 314 in FIG. 3.

The process generates a number of graphical display features using thefirst flight information received (operation 1004). The number ofgraphical display features may be a number of bars, such as number ofbars 700 in FIG. 7, for example. The number of graphical displayfeatures indicates a current status of a flight, providing contextsensitive flight information in a graphical display. The process thenintegrates the number of graphical display features with a display(operation 1006). The display may be, for example, without limitation, anavigational display, an electronic en-route chart, a primary flightdisplay (PFD) with three dimensional synthetic vision display, and/orany other suitable display over a user interface, such as user interface316 in FIG. 3.

The process continually receives updated flight information during aflight having a number of estimated times of arrival for the number ofwaypoints (operation 1008). The updated flight information may include,for example, without limitation, aircraft position information, time,weather information, estimated times of arrival for the number ofwaypoints based on the aircraft position, time, and weather information,and/or any other suitable information.

The process continually determines whether the number of estimated timesof arrival deviates from the number of required times of arrival(operation 1010). If a determination is made that the updated flightinformation deviates from the first flight information, the processupdates the number of graphical display features using the updatedflight information (operation 1012), and returns to operation 1008. Theprocess iteratively repeats operations 1008, 1010, and 1012 throughout aflight, for example. The process updates the number of graphical displayfeatures to depict the deviation determined between the estimated timesof arrival and required times of arrival for the number of waypoints,for example, such as the illustrative deviations depicted in FIG. 7.

If a determination is made that the number of estimated times of arrivaldoes not deviate from the number of required times of arrival (operation1010), the process then determines whether the flight is still inprogress (operation 1014). If a determination is made that the flight isstill in progress, the process returns to operation 1008. If adetermination is made that the flight is no longer in progress, theprocess terminates thereafter.

The process illustrated in FIG. 10 is not meant to imply any limitationsto the manner in which different advantageous embodiments may beimplemented. Other steps in addition and/or in place of the onesillustrated may be used. Some steps may be unnecessary in someadvantageous embodiments. Also, the operations are presented toillustrate some functional steps. One or more of these operations may becombined and/or divided into different operations when implemented indifferent advantageous embodiments.

For example, the process may terminate if a number of waypoints for theflight plan does not have associated required times of arrival. Inanother illustrative example, the first flight information associatedwith the flight plan may include a number of waypoints having requiredposition information associated with each waypoint, such as altitude forexample. In this illustrative example, the process may continuallydetermine if the current position information for the aircraft deviatesfrom the required position associated with a specific waypoint.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the different depicted embodimentsillustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of somepossible implementations of apparatus, methods and computer programproducts. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagramsmay represent a module, segment, or portion of computer usable orreadable program code, which comprises one or more executableinstructions for implementing the specified function or functions. Insome alternative implementations, the function or functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, insome cases, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved.

The different advantageous embodiments can take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodimentcontaining both hardware and software elements. Some embodiments areimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to forms,such as, for example, firmware, resident software, and microcode.

Furthermore, the different embodiments can take the form of a computerprogram product accessible from a computer usable or computer readablemedium providing program code for use by or in connection with acomputer or any device or system that executes instructions. For thepurposes of this disclosure, a computer usable or computer readablemedium can generally be any tangible apparatus that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The computer usable or computer readable medium can be, for example,without limitation an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, or a propagation medium. Non limitingexamples of a computer readable medium include a semiconductor or solidstate memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk,and an optical disk. Optical disks may include compact disk-read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

Further, a computer usable or computer readable medium may contain orstore a computer readable or usable program code such that when thecomputer readable or usable program code is executed on a computer, theexecution of this computer readable or usable program code causes thecomputer to transmit another computer readable or usable program codeover a communications link. This communications link may use a mediumthat is, for example without limitation, physical or wireless.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing computerreadable or computer usable program code will include one or moreprocessors coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through acommunications fabric, such as a system bus. The memory elements mayinclude local memory employed during actual execution of the programcode, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storageof at least some computer readable or computer usable program code toreduce the number of times code may be retrieved from bulk storageduring execution of the code.

Input/output or I/O devices can be coupled to the system either directlyor through intervening I/O controllers. These devices may include, forexample, without limitation to keyboards, touch screen displays, andpointing devices. Different communications adapters may also be coupledto the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled toother data processing systems or remote printers or storage devicesthrough intervening private or public networks. Non-limiting examplesare modems and network adapters are just a few of the currentlyavailable types of communications adapters.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into accountthat current flight management systems display en-route and terminalcharts associated with a flight plan using static information, orinformation that was pre-defined and preloaded well before the flight.When conditions during flight affect the travel time of the aircraft,the information depicting route information may become less relevant.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments provide a system tographically display flight sensitive context information in a display toprovide situational awareness to a pilot and/or flight crew.

The description of the different advantageous embodiments has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, and is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Further, different advantageousembodiments may provide different advantages as compared to otheradvantageous embodiments. The embodiment or embodiments selected arechosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flight management system comprising: a userinterface comprising a display; and a computer configured to display, onthe display, information about time and position of an aircraft inrelation to a number of waypoints for the aircraft in a flight plan ofthe aircraft, wherein the information is displayed using a number ofgraphical display features, and wherein the number of waypoints compriseone or more reference points in physical space used for navigation. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes a number ofrequired times of arrival and a number of estimated times of arrival forthe number of waypoints.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the number ofgraphical display features includes a number of bars, a number ofmarkers, and a number of colors.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thenumber of graphical display features depict a deviation from a requiredvalue.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the number of graphical displayfeatures includes a number of additional symbols depicting a deviationoutside a threshold limit.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein theinformation includes latitude, longitude, altitude and a current timeassociated with the latitude, the longitude, and the altitude.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the number of graphical features isintegrated with navigation information presented on the display, andwherein the navigation information is selected from at least one of anavigational display and an electronic navigation chart.
 8. The systemof claim 1, wherein the display is a three dimensional primary flightdisplay.